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51 °F 5 Day Forecast Wednesday, December 17, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend July 31, 2003 David Alleman, a firefighter with Applegate Rural Fire District No. 9, douses hot spots from a grass fire that destroyed a barn on Upper Applegate Road Wednesday afternoon. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Heat, wind fuel Applegate fire By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune A grass fire pushed by extreme heat and erratic winds burned between six and eight acres and destroyed a barn along Upper Applegate Road Wednesday afternoon. Firefighters attacked the blaze, which was reported about 3:50 p.m., and had it corralled in about 45 minutes, said Capt. Joe D’Amico of Applegate Rural Fire District No. 9. The fire spread rapidly through tall, dry grass, turned fence posts into torches and demolished a set of rural mailboxes. A barn at 4748 Upper Applegate Road was destroyed. A small spot fire started across the road near the Applegate River, but it was quickly contained, he said. "This was wind-driven," D’Amico said. "Erratic winds picked up in the extreme heat and really carried this fire." Advertisement Louise Muller, who with her husband owns the barn that burned, said a passerby saw the fire start in a neighbor’s field, called 911 and warned the Mullers. The fire swept across a field of tall grass and only slowed a little when it reached the Mullers’ mowed field, Louise Muller said. "It sure took that barn down in a hurry," she said. The Mullers stored hay-handling equipment in the barn, including a bailer, trailer, conveyor and rack for a truck, as well as other ranch gear. "We sure felt bad about the barn, but at least it didn’t get to the house," she said. Crews from Fire District 9, the Bureau of Land Management, Oregon Department of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service and contractors hired by the forestry agencies battled the blaze, said Dennis Turco, a forestry department fire-prevention specialist. "We threw a lot of resources at it due to the extreme conditions," he said. At the fire’s peak, about 18 engines, two 20-person hand-crews and three helicopters worked to knock it out, he said. An air tanker was ordered, but before it took off, crews at the fire decided it wasn’t needed. The fire restricted traffic on Upper Applegate Road for several hours. Crews planned to monitor the burned area through the night to make sure no smoldering debris sparked a new fire. Investigators are continuing to look into the cause of the blaze. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times